La GRANGE — The camaraderie in North Lenoir’s gym remained the same throughout the years.

Six teams of alumni participated in an Old School vs. New School game to celebrate 50 years of North Lenoir basketball.

Former Hawks from classes as far back as 1964 to as current as 2012 comprised six basketball teams in Saturday’s tournament, which also serves as a fundraiser for the basketball team.

According to the games’ coordinator, Tamarah Stanley, between $1-2,000 have been raised in each tourney in the event’s three-year existence.

“It grows year after year,” Stanley said. “It’s just getting more popular. It’s like a big class reunion, so people really look forward to it.”

Gregory Harris, a 1996graduate, felt the return of youth after playing in the first game of the afternoon.

“I feel young again man, even though my body doesn’t show it, I feel young again,” he said.

Harrisonly played basketball his senior year after being in the NL band the previous three, noting the hoops program had an unmatched “competitiveness.”

“I look forward to every year, playing with my old crew,” he said. “It’s tradition.”

Hawks tradition echoed through several other alumni, including a pair of 2008 graduates.

Tim Roberts and Helena Davis confirmed “Hawks pride” is what helped bring out several dozens of alumni and their families.

“Basketball, period, just means a lot to everybody out here,” Roberts said. “Everybody out here is cool, and I enjoyed playing with all my old teammates.”

His team played against team included Adrian Brewer, who broke the NL single-game scoring record with 44 points — only to be broken by one point with Justin Dunn the very next night. Forty-five points remains the record today.

NL basketball coach Anthony Loftin said some of the guys and girls still had it.

“Other than the weigh factor they picked up, a lot of them still can play,” he said. “They can hit the 3, drive to the basket and it’s just exciting to see that they haven’t (forgotten) some of the things that they learned when they came through this way.”

Loftin, who’s been involved in the Hawks athletic programs more than 20 years, added the games were a chance for fellowship between the older and younger classes.

In the stands was Sharon Gillette, as she was known when she played basketball at NL. She is the mother the current football, girls’ basketball and track coach Calvin Sutton and Asha Sutton-Fuzzell. Gillette said she and her two children respectively helped the Hawks win conference tournaments.

“As far as my family being at North Lenoir, we’re so happy to come here,” she said. “We loved being here, and the teachers were great when we were here … I just wish more kids would come this way. The youth today are not really interested in playing basketball. They don’t realize that basketball teaches them so much character, so much leadership.”

Some of those traits Loftin recognized in players he saw progress through the NL basketball program over the years.

Even though the classes were going for a win Saturday, Loftin understood it wasn’t all about competition.

“I don’t think it’s so much about winning,” he said, “it’s just a chance to meet each other. It’s exciting to see all of them back in the same gym once again. As we get older in life, it’s good for them to be able to come back, have fellowship and get together to share the moments they had in school.”

Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Jessika.Morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan